| One of the most interesting dives for any certified | | | | the next 30 minutes, he orchestrated a feeding |
| scuba diver is the shark dive. During most dives in the | | | | frenzy as the sharks averaging about 12 feet in |
| Caribbean, seeing a shark is actually a rare occurrence | | | | length came to him from all angles. He used a steel |
| and considered a bonus since they don't tend to stay | | | | rod to feed the sharks. Sometimes he would actually |
| around very long if they are sighted anyway. One | | | | tease the sharks with the rod before feeding them. |
| quick glimpse and they are gone in the distance. This | | | | The sharks darted around like torpedoes. I was |
| is why the shark dives in the Bahamas were | | | | impressed by how fast and agile they were. |
| developed. It's a way to give daring scuba divers a | | | | Meanwhile, a third divemaster was nearby |
| chance to see many sharks up close. These shark | | | | videotaping the entire scene. |
| dives are available in both Nassau and Freeport in the | | | | We were told to keep our arms folded in front of us |
| Bahamas. I had an opportunity to do one of these | | | | in order not to confuse any shark who might mistake |
| shark dives during a dive trip to Nassau in the island | | | | our limbs as lunch. The sharks came so close to us |
| of Providence. | | | | that sometimes they bumped and made contact with |
| I went with the scuba operator Dive Dive Dive | | | | a few divers. One shark actually came into the |
| although Stuart Cove's also offers shark dives. It was | | | | feeding area from behind me and its belly brushed |
| a two tank dive and when we got to the first dive | | | | the top of my head. Now that was certainly an |
| site called Williams Wreck, there were already a few | | | | experience I'll never forget! We were told that these |
| Caribbean reef sharks circling underneath the boat. | | | | sharks were only interested in the food that the |
| The music from the movie Jaws started to play in | | | | divemaster had rather than us. These sharks have |
| my head. The first dive was a reef site with a small | | | | been conditioned to these feedings twice per day all |
| wreck with ample marine life including the sharks that | | | | week long so they were quite used to the routine |
| were nearby. They came close to the divers but not | | | | now. We all hoped that this was true. A few sharks |
| too close, much like barracudas. Deepest depth here | | | | circled right in front of our semi-circle and when their |
| was 69 feet and the duration of the dive was 36 | | | | tails were out in front of us, some divers including |
| minutes. The ascent was interesting because at the | | | | myself couldn't resist reaching out to touch them |
| 15 feet safety stop, the sharks were there checking | | | | even though we were not suppose to. |
| us out. At one point, there was a shark in between | | | | In addition to the sharks, there were also these two |
| myself and the boat. I was wondering how I was | | | | groupers who parked themselves in front of our |
| going to get back with the shark in the way but it | | | | semi-circle as they watched all the activity. They |
| eventually moved out of the way. | | | | didn't seem to have any fear of the sharks or divers |
| After the first dive, we went over to the dive site | | | | at all and at one point, one of these groupers actually |
| close by that would be the location for the actual | | | | darted in and took the food from the divemaster's |
| shark feeding. This dive site was appropriately named | | | | rod before any of the sharks did. |
| Shark Alley. We were told to use a little more weight | | | | When the divemaster ran out of food, he tipped the |
| than usual since we were to spend most of our time | | | | bucket over on its side and almost on cue, all the |
| during our second dive at the bottom. So I added | | | | sharks swam off. It's like they knew that the feeding |
| three more pounds to my weight belt. Again, we | | | | had ended and therefore had no more interest in |
| could see the sharks in the water during the surface | | | | sticking around. When they all left, we still had some |
| interval but this time, there were more of them. We | | | | time left to search the sand bottom for any shark |
| were instructed to descend to the bottom as quickly | | | | teeth before returning back to the boat. Of course, |
| as possible and once at the bottom about 50 feet | | | | most of us eventually did buy the video of our shark |
| down, we were huddled by one of the divemasters | | | | dive when we got back to the dive shop. I have |
| into a single line semi-circle in a sandy open area. | | | | played this video to many of my non-diving friends |
| Once we were in formation, another divemaster | | | | who just watched in horror and disbelief. They just |
| descended from the boat. This was the one who | | | | couldn't understand why anyone would want to jump |
| would do the feeding and he was carrying a bucket | | | | into the water with sharks around. Of course, |
| of treats for the sharks. Almost immediately, over 20 | | | | experienced scuba divers have a better |
| sharks came out of nowhere. My heart started to | | | | understanding of shark behavior than the average |
| pound with excitement at this point. | | | | person but it's always fun to entertain my non-diving |
| The divemaster with the food was wearing a chain | | | | friends with this video. The shark dive is certainly one |
| mesh suit and gloves over his wetsuit. He settled at | | | | of the most exciting and memorable dives a scuba |
| the bottom about ten feet or so in front of us. For | | | | diver will ever do. |